NCAA Suggests Memphis Quit Whining

Ah, the convoluted world of college athletics. The NCAA exists because universities needed someone to set the rules, enforce them and dole out penalties for those who violate them. Not because they wanted it that way, but because they didn't trust each other. The rules are there because the universities agreed to them. Except when they are enforced. Then they are unfair.

Memphis had its 2008 appearance in the National Championship game along with the 38 wins it had in the 2007-08 season stripped from the record books for playing an ineligible player. The cost of having Derrick Rose and his dubious SAT score lead the Tigers to an undefeated regular season and minutes from a National Championship.

Memphis has appealed the penalties saying that they were too harsh. The NCAA's infractions committee responded.
Essentially telling Memphis that they got off easy.

The school targets the so-called "strict liability" standard imposed after the NCAA ruled Rose retroactively ineligible because of an SAT score that was invalidated by the Educational Testing Service in May 2008.

The infractions committee notes Memphis' counsel admitted in a June hearing that the university "took a risk" by allowing Rose to compete even though officials knew of potential problems with the SAT score.

The committee defended the penalties, calling Memphis a "repeat violator" with an "admitted failure to monitor." The major violations in men's basketball all involved Rose, creating "a significant competitive advantage."

The committee pointed out that all the penalties on Memphis were retroactive. There were no bans on the post-season. No reductions in scholarships. So, quit complaining and move on -- just like the coach who recruited Rose.

To recap, Derrick Rose was struggling to get an adequate qualifying score on the SAT. Having failed to do so on more than one occasion in Chicago. He traveled to Detroit to take in a Detroit Pistons playoff game on a Friday night with his brother, the well-connected William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley and others. On Saturday Rose took the SAT in the area. Miraculously, this time he achieved a qualifying score. Apparently all it took was a road trip, a late night watching NBA basketball and a different city.

Well it took a while, but the testing folks let the NCAA know there might be a problem with Rose's test. The NCAA let Memphis know they would be looking into this shortly after the 2008 season had ended. By that point, Derrick Rose had already finished his one-and-done year and never responded to any inquiries from the NCAA about his test.

Memphis' defense has long been that there was nothing at the time to suggest that Rose didn't take his own SAT, and that they couldn't have known. So, they shouldn't be penalized. Especially since the NCAA had certified Rose.

The problem is that the rules the NCAA has to enforce -- and the programs including Memphis have to follow -- has a standard of strict liability with regards to playing ineligible players. The purpose is to prevent claims of ignorance and purposefully pursuing a policy of deniability.